Published: December 12, 2024
New Delhi: The cricketing world is abuzz as Mumbai and Baroda gear up for the first semifinal of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. The high-octane clash at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on December 13 promises to be a spectacle, with both teams boasting an array of star players, including IPL icons and national team stalwarts.
Mumbai’s Stellar Lineup
Led by Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings), Mumbai features a formidable batting lineup with Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians), Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders), Prithvi Shaw, and Shivam Dube (Chennai Super Kings). The team’s recent performances have been nothing short of spectacular, chasing mammoth targets of 222 and 230 runs in their quarterfinal victories against Vidarbha and Andhra.
Ajinkya Rahane has been the cornerstone of Mumbai’s success this season, scoring 334 runs in six innings at an average of 55.66 and a strike rate of 167.83. On the bowling front, Shardul Thakur and Mohit Avasthi lead with 12 wickets each, though their economy rates over 10 runs per over might be a concern.
Baroda’s Dynamic Duo: Pandya Brothers
Baroda, captained by Krunal Pandya (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), enters the semifinal in formidable form. Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians), a key player for the team, has been delivering match-winning performances. Baroda made headlines earlier in the tournament by setting the highest-ever T20 total of 349 runs against Sikkim.
Bhanu Pania has been their leading run-scorer with 271 runs at a strike rate of 222.13, while Atit Sheth has bagged 13 wickets. However, Sheth’s high economy rate of 10.34 could pose a challenge against Mumbai’s power-packed lineup.
Teams’ Journey So Far
Both Mumbai and Baroda have had stellar campaigns, each losing just one match in the tournament. Mumbai’s only defeat came against Kerala, while Baroda’s sole loss was a heavy 78-run defeat to Saurashtra. Despite these setbacks, both teams have dominated their respective opponents, showcasing depth in both batting and bowling.
Key Players to Watch
- Mumbai: Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer, and Tanush Kotian.
- Baroda: Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhanu Pania, and Atit Sheth.
Semifinal Squads
Mumbai: Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Shardul Thakur, Hardik Tamore (w), Tanush Kotian, Mohit Avasthi, Atharva Ankolekar, Siddhesh Lad, Royston Dias, Jay Gokul Bista, Sairaj Patil, Shams Mulani, Akash Anand, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Himanshu Singh, M Juned Khan.
Baroda: Shashwat Rawat, Abhimanyu Singh Rajput, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya (c), Shivalik Sharma, Bhanu Pania, Vishnu Solanki (w), Atit Sheth, Mahesh Pithiya, Lukman Meriwala, Akash Maharaj Singh, Bhargav Bhatt, Mitesh Patel, Ninad Ashvinkumar Rathva, Shubham Shyamsunder Sharma, Soyeb Sopariya, Chintal Gandhi, Jyotsnil Singh, Raj Limbani, Lakshit Toksiya.
What’s at Stake?
The semifinal clash between Mumbai and Baroda is more than just a contest; it’s a battle of IPL stars and domestic stalwarts aiming for glory in India’s premier T20 domestic tournament. With both teams in excellent form, fans can expect a thrilling encounter that could go down to the wire.
Stay tuned to Board of Sports in India (BOSI) for live updates, match highlights, and exclusive insights from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024.
